Top for containers



March 10, 1936.

SCHACHER TOP FOR CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 28, 1935 FIG: 3.

INVENTOR Jferzzzom Sclzo I ll @jg if v ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 10, i936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'ror FOR CONTAINERS Herman Schacher, Eden, N. Y. Application February 28. 1935 Serial No. 8,693

10 Claims. (01. 221-430.) V

7 My invention relates to a dispensing top for containers, and particularly for use on collapsible tubes containing tooth paste or shaving cream and the like, but which may be readily adapted 5 for use on cans or other containers for dispensing powder and various other materials.

This invention is a device for eliminating the usual separate screw cap and an improvement over the various devices of stoppers, valves and 10 the like for such tubes, and is in the nature of a sliding valve for opening and closing the discharge aperture of a container and consists of a one-piece valve which is held by the neck por-' tion of said container.

15 One object of the invention resides in the construction and mounting of the sliding valve at the top of the container wherein the maximum degreeof efliciency and cheapness of construction may be obtained.

go Another object of my invention is to provide a sliding valve which will efficiently close and seal the discharge opening without the use of a gasket or other padding material.

Another object is to provide in one piece a slid- :5 ing valve to resiliently maintain contact between the valve and container top.

Another object is to provide a sliding valve which is capable of presenting more than one form-of opening to cooperate with the discharge opening or the container to deliver material from said container and also maintain a tight connection between said valve opening and discharge opening during said delivery.

Another object is to provide a sliding valve 35 which will not be detached in 'openposition but which can be readily assembled or disassembled without the bending of any of its parts and by simply compressing its spring parts;

with these and other objects'in view, the in- 40 vention consists in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts by which the said objects and certain other objects which will hereinafter appear are attained, the invention being more particularly 5 pointed out in the claims.

Fig. 41s a side elevation of the topportion of the container of Fig. 3 without valve.

Fig. 51s a plan of the valve of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the valve of Figs.

1 and 2. 5

Fig. 7 is a plan of a container having a modification of the top shown in Fig. 1 to accommo' date a modified valve.

' Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the modified container top and valve on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9- is a plan of the container ofFig. 7 withcut valve. w I

, Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the container top of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a bottom view of the valve of Figs. 15 '7 and 8.

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of the valve of Figs. 7 and 8 and on line l2-.-l2 of Fig. 11.

In the drawing my invention is shown in connection with a collapsible tube I, the upper end only being illustrated and formed to accommodate my valve. 2 is the neck of the tube havin therethrough a discharge passage 3 which in the present instance is cylindrical in shape and making a circulardischarge opening 4 in the flat top 5 surface 5. On opposite sides of opening 4 and in the surface 5 'are formed depressions 6 and I in the form of a portion of a ball, which together with the opening 4 accommodate similar ballshaped knobs 8, 9. and It! on the bottom surface of slide valve ll. Rising from the surface 5 on two sides of the neck 2 and in line with 6, 4 and I are vertical'walls I2 and I2 with top flanges l3 and l-3 extending laterally toward each other to form a slot through which the valve ll slides.

The slide valve II is preferably of metal, the various portions of which are stamped and formed from a single piece of material. I4, l4 are springs formed from, and integral with, the

valve ll by cutting on one end and the two 40' sides and pressed up into arc shape to contact with the 'top flanges l3, B of the' neck 2 and thereby hold said valve II down to its seat in the surface 5.

The springs l4, l4 are alike but cut in opposite directions as shown in Fig. 5 to press both ends of valve H evenly onto its seat. At opposite ends of valve I l are depending lips l5 and It to normally act as stops against the neck 2 in sliding the valve H back and forth and so limits its movement to positions only slightly beyond where knob 8 or III is seated in opening 4. Depending lip l5, however, is only of a depth toact as a stop in normal operation and the valve ii can be disassembled by raising the valve as a in Figs. 1 and 2 and to allow for sliding said it is put in until the dependent lip I 5 is raised sufllciently against said springs to allow said dependent lip l5 to clear the flat surface 5.

The slot formed by the flat surface 5, the walls l2, l2 .and flanges l3, I8 is shown somewhat exaggerated for convenience in illustration but such slot only needs to be of such a depth as to accommodate the passage of the knobs 8, 9 and I8 and dependent lip IS. The center ballshaped knob 9 of valve ll operates to close and seal the discharge opening 4 by being of a'size.

such that the ball surface contacts with the rim of opening 4. The ball shaped knobs 8 and III are the same size as 9 and make ball contact with the rim of opening 4 for a tight joint when in position thereon while the depressions 8 and l are of a size to allow knobs 8, 9 or l8 to seat in them sumciently so the spring pressure on valve II will be exerted in making a tight joint on the rim of opening 4. I

H is a round opening through the valve II in the center of ball shaped knob 8 and I8 is a rectangular shaped opening through the valve II at the ball shaped knob I0 as shown.

The action of the springs l4 of the valve II is to keep the discharge opening 4 closed by the knob 9 when valve II is in a position as shown valve ll until knob 8 is seatedover discharge opening 4 when valve opening I1 is in line therewith and cylindrical shaped paste can be squeezed from tube I, or sliding said' valve II until knob I8 is seated over discharge opening 4 when valve opening I 8 is in line therewith and ribbon shaped paste can be squeezed from tube I. Sliding valve II to the right from its closed position as 'in Figs. 1 and 2 knob 9 causes said valve II to rise against the action of springs l4 until said knob 9 clears opening 4 and when knob 8 reaches a position over opening 4 said valve II is forced down by said springs l4 and knob 8 is seated in opening 4. This locates valve II in proper position for discharging paste through valve opening II. In the same manner the valve H is properly located to discharge paste from valve opening l8 when valve H is moved to the left.

The different size and shape of I! and I8 is illustrative of the invention when using other material, as powder, and different openings provide for discharging material in larger or smaller amounts.

In the modified form of top and valve shown in Figs. 7 to 12, I is the tube, 2' the tube neck, 3 the discharge passage, 4 the discharge opening through the flat top surface 5', and 6 and I are ball shaped depressions in surface 5. I9 .is a flat top with flanges on neck 2' which is flattened at 2'0, 2ll'to accommodate the flanges 22, 22 of valve II.

The valve II is stamped and formed from a single piece of metal and having knobs 8, 9 and I0 and dependent lips l5 and I 8'. In this modifled form the valve II has two vertical walls 2|, 2| extending from the bottom of the said valve II and with bottom flanges 22, 22 extending inwardly toward each other to form a slot to slide said valve ll over the flanged top I 9 of neck 2'.

The springs I 4, l4 in this construction are in-.

l and 8 and the discharge opening 4 to close,-

said opening 4 by means of knob 9 and to discharge paste through openings l1 and I8 in the knobs 8 and Ill respectively and in the same manner as described for said valve I I Valve I l' is assembled by sliding the depending lip l5 over surface 5' when the springs l4 engage below the flanges iii. The valve II is then limited in its movement to right or left by the dependent lips I! and ii. To remove valve ll' requires raising dependent lip IS on to the surface 5 and sliding the valve to the right.

Having thus described my invention what I .claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, comprising a container with an outlet end including a top with a flat surface and a circular discharge opening in said surface, flanges extending laterally to said top, a slide valve slidably mounted to cooperatewith said outlet end, a ball shaped knob on said valve to contact into the rim of, and

close said discharge opening, another ball shaped knob on said valve and with an opening therethrough, to contact into the rim of said discharge opening and provide continuous passage means for discharging material from said container, and said valve-providing spring means to cooperate with said flanges to make a tight joint between said discharge opening and the ball knob contacting therewith when closing or opening said discharge opening. J

' 2. In a device of the character described, comprising a container with an outlet end including a top with a circular discharge opening, flanges 1 extending laterally to said top, a slide valve slidably mounted at said container endand having a ball shaped knob to contact into the rim of, and close, said discharge opening, another ball shaped knob with an opening therethrough 'to contact into the rim of said discharge opening and provide continuous passage means for discharging material from said container, spring means integral with said valve to cooperate with said flanges to make a tight joint between said discharge opening and the ball knob contacting therewith, and depending lips on said valve to limit the movement of said valve.

3. In a device of the character described, comprising a container with an outlet end including a top having a discharge opening, flanges extending laterally to said top, a slide valve slidably mounted at said container end, said valve having a knob to contact with the rim of, and close, said discharging opening, a second knob formed from said valve to contact with the rim of said discharge opening when said valve is moved in one direction from its closing position, said second knob provided with-an opening therethrough, a third knob formed from said valve to contact with the rim of said discharge opening whensaid valve is moved in another direction from its closing position, said third knob provided with an opening therethrough and of a difierent size and shape from the opening of said second mob, spring means formed from said valve to cooperate with said flanges to make a tight Joint between the rim of said discharge opening and each of said knobs, respectively, and depending lips on said valve to limit the normal movement of said valve.

4. In a device of the character described, comprising a container with an outlet end including a top with a flat surface having a discharge opening therein, flanges extending laterally to said top, a valve slidably mounted to slide over said flat surface, ball shaped knobs extending from the bottom of said valve, one of said knobs closing said discharge opening whenin position thereover and another of said knobs having an opening to provide passage means from said discharge opening through said valve when said open knob is in position over said discharge opening, spring means formed from said valve to contact with said flanges and make a tight joint between the knob located over said discharge opening and said opening and a depending lip on each end of said valve to contact with the container top and prevent said valve being removed from said top during its normal movements, one of said depending lips of a depth toallow of its being raised onto"the said top flat surface against the retractive action of said springs whereby said'valve may be disassembled from said container top.

5. In a device of the character described, comprising a container with an outlet end includin a top with a flat surface having a discharge opening, parallel flanges extending laterally to said top and connected to said flat surface by vertical walls to form a slot, a valve slidably mounted in said slot to control the closing and opening of said discharge opening, said valve provided with an opening therethrough, means on said valve to form a closure for said discharge opening and to cooperate with said discharge opening to locate said valve in its closure position, means at said valve opening to locate said valve opening over said discharge opening, springs on said valve to cooperate with the flanges of said slot to hold said valve onto its seat on said flat surface, depending lips on said valve to contact with the container top to limit the and movement of said valve, one of said depending lips of a depth less than the depth of said slot whereby said valve may be disassembled against the action of said springs.

6.. In a device of the character described, comprising a container with an outlet end including a top with a discharge opening, a valve slidably mounted to contact with one part of said outlet end to control the closing and opening of said discharge opening, a knob on said valve, with an opening therethrough, to contact with the rim of said discharge opening when in position thereover to form a continuous passagqthrough said valve and spring means contacting with a second part of said container top and said valve to hold said valve against said first part of said container top and make a tight joint between said knob and said discharge opening rim and out of a contact with said second spring contacting part.

7. In a device of the character described, comprising a container with an outlet and includin a top having a discharge opening, a valve with anopening-therethrough and slidably mounted at said outlet end to control the closing and opening of said discharge opening, means at said valve opening to locate said valve opening over said discharge opening, a flange, and spring means between said flange and valve to press said valve against said container top and away from said flange whereby said locating means will make a tight joint between said valve and the rim of sai discharge opening.

8. In a device of the character described, comprising a: container with an outlet hole including a valve with an opening therethrough and slidably mounted to control the closing and opening of said hole, an offset around said valve opening to engage the rim of said outlet hole when in position thereover, said container being cut away in the direction of movement of said valve to clear said valve opening oifset whensaid valve is in its outlet closing position, a flange to guide said valve and a-sprlng to cooperate with .said flange and valve and hold said valve in contact with said container and out of contact with said flange in its opening and closing positions.

9. In a device of the character described, comprising a container with an outlet hole, including a valve slidably mounted to control the closing, and opening of said outlet hole, a flange to guide said valve and a spring to cooperate with said flange and said valve and hold said valve in contact with said container and out of contact with said flange when in its extreme opening and clos-' ing positions.

10. In a device of the character'described, com-' prising a container with an outlet hole, including a valve'with an opening therethrough and slidably mounted to control the opening and closing of said outlet hole, a flange to guide said valve, spring means to cooperate with said flange and said valve to hold said valve to its. s'eat' over said outlet hole and stops to limit the end movement of said valve, one of said stops of a size to allow the valve to be disassembled from said container when raised from its seat against the action of said spring means.

HERMAN SCHACHER. 

